What can I say? The last few mornings, as I checked on my rooftop garden, I started singing, The Telephone Hour song from 1960s musical, Bye Bye Birdie.
What’s the story, morning glory?
What’s the word, hummingbird?
Yes, I’m that old!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged Bye Bye Birdie, Cee's Flower of the Day (FOTD) challenge, flowers, Mexico, Morning glory flowers, Oaxaca, photos, rooftop garden, The Telephone Hour (song) on May 16, 2023| 8 Comments »
What can I say? The last few mornings, as I checked on my rooftop garden, I started singing, The Telephone Hour song from 1960s musical, Bye Bye Birdie.
What’s the story, morning glory?
What’s the word, hummingbird?
Yes, I’m that old!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged bougainvillea, Cee's Flower of the Day (FOTD) challenge, Epiphyllum Argus, Epiphyllum hookeri, flowers, frangipani, Mexico, Oaxaca, Pachypodium lamerei, photos, popular travel destinations, rooftop garden, spring flowers on April 26, 2023| 2 Comments »
And now the April “showers” have brought spring flowers to Casita Colibrí.
Posted in Animals, Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged cactus flowers, caterpillars, garden surprises, lizards, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations on January 19, 2023| 10 Comments »
While I was in el norte, I had no worries about my plants, as I knew my neighbors A&P would take good care of them. It has taken me a week to unpack, put things away, clean (oh, the dust!), and get reacquainted with my garden’s flora and fauna.
I was surprised and delighted this tiny cactus welcomed me with one of its flowers.
Another delight was the presence of Eddie Lizard still hanging out on the outer side of the screen between the atrium and my office. He’s been here a month and a half!
A less welcome sight were these small caterpillars. Thankfully, P took on the task of picking them off with my garden tweezers. They have been munching on my Passion Flower leaves for months and I can’t figure out how to eradicate them. Any suggestions?
After being gone for a month, it’s good to be back home, be warm and dry, and enjoying my garden!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged blue wall, cacti & succulents, light and shadows, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, rooftop garden on November 28, 2022| 3 Comments »
Autumn light catches plant shadow play against my garden’s new blue wall.
Blue makes for a far more dramatic scene than the former lifeless cream color.
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged Flower of the Day Challenge (FOTD), flowers, garden color, hibiscus, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, rooftop garden on September 28, 2022| 8 Comments »
Several weeks ago, at the weekly Friday market on Calle del Refugio, I bought a hibiscus plant in a 6 inch pot. It had a single brilliant yellow with red highlights flower, but was filled with promise from multiple buds. I immediately transplanted it into a larger pot and it has proceeded to put on quite a show. As one flower folds up and falls off, another opens to take its place.
Each flower is unique and ready for its close-up!
Posted in Creativity, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged Mexico, Oaxaca, organ cactus, Pachycerus Marginatus, photos, popular travel destinations on August 17, 2022| 2 Comments »
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Mexico, Oaxaca, popular travel destinations, rain, rain storms, rainy season, rooftop garden, video on August 12, 2022| Leave a Comment »
At long last, thunder is rumbling and rain is pouring down on the highways, byways, and rooftops of Oaxaca. If you look closely, you can see the buckets collecting the runoff from the new pergola.
Oaxaca, a largely agricultural state, desperately needs the rain. Let’s hope it lasts!
Posted in Environment, Flora, Gardens, Parks & Plazas, Science & Nature, Travel & Tourism, Weather, tagged Francisco Verástegui, Indian Laurel tree, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, rain storms, trees, zócalo on June 8, 2022| 6 Comments »
We read the news today, oh boy. Early last night a violent thunderstorm brought gale force winds and torrential rain. It didn’t last long but it took its toll. The beloved giant Indian laurel that provided shade to the concerts, danzón, and other programs “bajo el laurel” on the zócalo toppled to the ground. Thankfully, no one was injured.
The iconic Indian laurels were planted on Oaxaca’s Zócalo and Alameda de León between 1870 and 1880. However, in the thirteen years that I have lived here, I’ve lost count of the number of laurels that have fallen.
As the late artist and heritage tree advocate Francisco Verástegui once explained to me, the trees suffered from damage caused by an aborted remodel of the Zócalo in 2005, along with improper pruning, inadequate irrigation, faulty drainage, and the use of unsterilized mulch leading to the growth of fungus and causing the roots to rot.
I wasn’t the only one to come to pay my respects to this magnificent tree. “Muy triste” (very sad) was the morning’s refrain, as people filed by shaking their heads and others stopped to watch as the body of the Indian laurel was prepared for it’s final resting place.
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Culture, Environment, Gardens, Politics, tagged compost bins, composting, Hagamos Composta, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, recycling, Saving Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Online, Solidarity with Ukraine on March 11, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Last Saturday, Hagamos Composta picked up our filled bins and left these. Are our compost gals making a statement?
The librarian/archivist in me compels me to share a link to Saving Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Online. Proud of my profession.
Posted in Culture, Food, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged corn, courtyard, light and shadows, maiz, Mexico, Oaxaca, photos, popular travel destinations, Teotitlán del Valle on January 28, 2022| 4 Comments »
I’m home in Barrio de Jalatlaco — rested, recovered, and caught-up — after a three-day fiesta at the home of my compadres in Teotitlán del Valle. Tranquil before photos…
Three days of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with 20 to 160 family members and compadres, formal presentations, and a ritual ceremony — all to acknowledge and celebrate the promise of marriage between the youngest daughter and her intended. More from the celebrations to come.
Posted in Animals, Beverages, Culture, Flora, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged agave, cempasúchitl, cockscomb, flowers, grasshoppers, José Alberto Pablo, marigolds, Mexico, mezcal, mezcal palenque, Oaxaca, popular travel destinations, rusty mezcal, San Bernardo Mixtepec on November 11, 2021| 6 Comments »
Our Day in the country’s final destination was San Bernardo Mixtepec. The scenery was spectacular as we drove south from Zimatlán de Álvarez, through the valley, and northeast up into the mountains. It was mid October, nearing Día de Muertos and in the valley there were fields filled with cempasúchitl (marigolds) and cresta de gallo (cockscomb) waiting to be picked for altars. In the meantime, they were being enjoyed by a local grasshopper.
Navigating the narrow, winding, and steep roads, we eventually arrived at the palenque and family home of José Alberto Pablo and his father Mario. Perched on the side of a mountain, it offers stunning views.
Fermentation is done in clay pots in a specially built room, and clay pots are used for distillation. In an eco-friendly feature, he recirculates the condenser water rather than letting it drain into a stream.
At some point in the history of San Bernardo Mixtepec, a persuasive vendor must have introduced the palenqueros to enameled metal condensers. Over time they rust and deposit a small amount of rust into the mezcal — giving it a distinctive yellow-orange color. According to José Alberto, the villagers have become so accustomed to the color, they are reluctant to drink clear mezcal.
Yes, we bought! I came away with a lovely rusty tobalá. By the way, they also use stainless and copper condensers to make clear rust-less mezcal — for the less adventurous and to satisfy the mezcal regulatory board.
Posted in Animals, Beverages, Culture, Gardens, Travel & Tourism, tagged agave plantllets, altars, cattle, Day in the country, flowers, goats, Mexican sunflower, Mexico, mezcal, Oaxaca, palenques, photos, popular travel destinations, Tío René, Tithonia diveversifolia, tools, Zimatlán de Álvarez on October 24, 2021| 2 Comments »
Flora and fauna and mezcal, oh my! That pretty much sums up the next stop on my day in the country adventure with friends. After leaving Villa de Zaachila, we headed south to Zimatlán de Álvarez and the working farm and palenque of René Parada Barriga (sold under label, Tío René). René was at a meeting, so his son Moisés capably took over the palenque’s touring and teaching duties.
We came prepared, bringing our own plastic bottles and René’s wife Sophia poured and sold. I bought a lovely copper distilled Cuish and, once home, transferred it into one of my many empty glass bottles — saved for days such as this. Our next (and last) stop was another palenque. Stay tuned!
Posted in Casita Colibrí, Flora, Gardens, tagged Cee's Flower of the Day (FOTD) challenge, Madagascar Palm, Mexico, Oaxaca, Pachypodium lamerei, photos, rooftop garden, white flowers on October 12, 2021| 12 Comments »
After a twelve year wait, my Pachypodium lamerei has bloomed! Though not a palm, you may know it as a Madagascar Palm.
First thing every morning, while the coffee is brewing, I go up on the rooftop to wish my plants a “buenos días” and check to see if the water heater pilot is still lit — but I digress.
Two and a half weeks ago my Pachypodium lamerei surprised me with its first ever flower.
And the blooms keep coming. I think it likes its new home!